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SurfGuitar101 Forums » Gear »

'65 Deluxe Reverb RI question

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Dug Joined: Mar 31, 2006 Posts: 13	Posted on Apr 22 2006 02:57 PM So for the past year I have been using a rebuilt '65 deluxe reverb as my main amp (don't gig, just some garage use with friends), and I have fallen for it pretty hard. Anyway, I had actually "borrowed" this from the old man, and well now he wants it back (and yes, he just turned 65, retired, and has a gig next week ). He's giving me a '65 deluxe reverb reissue he's been using for the last year . My question is that the reissue just doesn't cut it compared to the original, sounds cold and hollow, but I was wondering if anyone has suggestions on tubes, speakers or other mods I could do help warm it up and sound more like an original. Thanks... Top
JakeDobner Joined: Feb 26, 2006 Posts: 12159 Seattle	Posted on Apr 22 2006 05:40 PM Several options. Stick the chasis of the '65 into the cab of the original. He might notice or might not. Just outright give him the RI. Another option is to just do a tube swap. Top
kick_the_reverb Joined: Feb 26, 2006 Posts: 1337 Escondido, CA	Posted on Apr 22 2006 08:19 PM Welcome to the wonderful world of original vs. reissue. Besides conning your old man, you have serveral options, but you need to really think them over, so you don't end up throwing good money after bad. The difference between the reissues and the originals usually comes from a combination of things, some or all of them may apply to your case: 1. cabinet is made of different materials and construction 2. speakers are different 3. circuits are low quality printed boards with low quality components 4. transformers are different 5. tubes are modern day low quality 6. bias adjustment from the factory not set for ideal tone 7. older components age and change their values thus coloring the tone with pleasing results most of the time 8. sometimes old internal reverb tanks sound better than new ones Since the amp is free, you can get tempted to put money in it and change a lot of things...but there is so much to change that it might be cheaper to get a "real" one and fix it up. Jake's suggestion to try tubes is probably your best bet, I'd look for NOS tubes, then have a good amp tech set the bias hot for a good tone. More than that, you'd probably end up spending too much money. Save the tubes that you take out, so if/when you sell the reissue, you get to keep your expensive NOS tubes. Good luck, Ran — The Scimitars Top
windmill Joined: Mar 22, 2006 Posts: 269	Posted on Apr 22 2006 09:44 PM One at a time, in order Get the bias checked Change the tubes Change speakers. Hours of fun invoved here. ;) — Freshwater Surfin' The Murray Basin Australia Top
Dug Joined: Mar 31, 2006 Posts: 13	Posted on Apr 22 2006 09:59 PM Thanks for all the suggestions, really appreciated (although I have to admit the switching cabinets idea had me thinking ). I'm hunting around for some NOS tubes (thanks ebay). Would one of you guys mind explaining bias to an admitted amp newbie, especially how its relates to resissue versus vintage amps, just so I know what to tell an amp tech? Top
dp Joined: Feb 26, 2006 Posts: 3546 mojave desert, california	Posted on Apr 22 2006 11:37 PM to use a metaphor: setting the tube bias is similar to setting the idle speed of your car's engine. if the idle on your car is too low or too high, your engine performance suffers: you waste fuel, and you can cause other problems. the tube bias of your output tubes (example: 6L6) determines how much current is allowed to flow from grid to plate. too low of a bias, and your sound is weakend, too high and you can fry your tubes more quickly. from what I understand, tube bias primarlly effects the longevity of tube life: wheter your tubes have a long life, or a short life partially depends upon proper bias setting. just like a car idle, there is an optimum bias setting for each type of tube (or tube amp). metaphor from : "the tube amp book" (1988) by R. Aspen Pittman http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0879307676/sr=8-1/qid=1145766438/ref=pd_bbs_1/104-1833937-3228760?%5Fencoding=UTF8 The Pittman book is an okay amp book, but I think he might have smoked too much pot and pcp back in '76 or so...kind of hippie-style organization of the book. Amazon has the newest edition, mine is the old '80s version which is super wacky. There are a few super-excellent technical types on this list (unlunf, you still around?), and I'm sure they might add some clarity or insight to my simplistic explanation. -dp Top
mom_surfing Joined: Feb 27, 2006 Posts: 5304 the outer banks of north carolina	Posted on Apr 23 2006 07:05 AM i have a deluxe reverb that's about 5 years old and switched out the tubes with some RCA NOS tubes and was amazed how it changed the tone — www.surfintheeye.com Top
WR Joined: Feb 27, 2006 Posts: 3832 netherlands	Posted on Apr 23 2006 01:39 PM you could also throw in a weber ceramic cali - 80 bucks only, great surf sound, and if the amp ever goes, just take out the speaker and put back the stock one - no money wasted, awesome speaker anyway. just a thought, WR — Rules to live by #314: "When in Italy, if the menu says something's grilled, don't assume it is." https://www.facebook.com/The-Malbehavers-286429584796173/ Top

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